Black-Footed Ferrets to Fort Carson

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Fort Carson, the National Wildlife Federation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are some of the partners considering the reintroduction of endangered black-footed ferrets to available prairie dog habitat, right here in our community’s backyard! Fort Carson has thousands of acres of suitable prairie habitat for ferret survival and is very interested in restoring the black-footed ferret on their land.

Want to learn more? Attend a free Open House at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Lodge at Moose Lake on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 6-8 p.m.

You’ll get to meet a black-footed ferret, get lots of important information and have an opportunity to discuss this exciting conservation initiative with many of the partners.

Free refreshments will be served.

Zip Lions

By Rebecca Zwicker, Animal Keeper


Last week, the African lions received a zip line for enrichment. Now, keepers can attach fun items like boxes with treats inside to the zip line, sending the treats down for the lions to pull off and enjoy.



The first time the three female youngsters saw a box hanging from the line they were merely curious, but once a second box filled with boomer ball, gourd and giraffe urine shot down the line, they made short work of the boxes. Parents, Elson and Angie, looked on.

Recycled Gift Wrap

By Della Garelle, DVM
Director of Conservation & Animal Health


Photo courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

For gift wrapping, you can start your own recycling program.
Use old posters, comics, colorful shopping bags, old calendars - even old maps make cool wraps!

Design your own gift-wrap by using a paper grocery or department store bag and adding decorations such as drawings, stamped patterns, or pictures cut from magazines. Let the kids do the designing. It will keep them busy on stormy days.

If you do use store bought wrapping paper, buy the kind with recycled content (the more post consumer, the better).

When you receive gifts, be sure to save the ribbons and bows. Click for additional tips on how to reduce your gift wrapping waste, or visit the Green Guide.

Tiger Enrichment

By Rebecca Zwicker, Animal Keeper



On Thanksgiving Day, Zoya, our Amur tiger cub, had quite a fun day! In the morning she was given a large rawhide bone (a gift from a zoo employee and her husband - thanks Tracey and Joel) that was tied by rope so it would hang in her exhibit.
Zoya cannot resist a fun moving object and the bone and rope enrichment kept her occupied while guests were delighted throughout the day!

Given that it was a holiday and it is just so much fun to give Zoya enrichment, we did it again in the afternoon, but this time she was given a piece of elk hide. At first she sniffed it and would lick it some. Soon she was running, jumping and rolling all around her exhibit with it. At one point she put it in her water trough, but retrieved it out of the water quickly. What a good day for Zoya, guests and her keepers alike!

Visit Winter WildLand

Our new seasonal celebration begins Friday December 5th, when everything at the Zoo is transformed into a nighttime spectacle of light and seasonal pleasures!

Make it a tradition for your whole family and ring in the season with thousands of lights, holiday characters, and the opportunity to make gifts and accompany Santa as he delivers presents to the animals. You can even see two special “reindeer in training”!

Santa and Sean Anglum, Public Relations & Events Manager, prepare for the big event.

Beginning Friday, 12/5, Winter WildLand takes place Thursday – Sunday evenings from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. Click HERE for ticket prices and detailed information. It will be a "Wildly Festive Experience"!